Seeking a rollback of the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on pre-packed, labelled food products, Kerala has registered its objection to the Centre’s decision that is bound to strain home budgets and affect several sections.
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, while responding to questions on GST in the Assembly on Monday, said the State had strongly opposed the move at the meetings of the council. The State had demanded the reinstatement of luxury goods under the highest GST slab rate of 28%. The tax levied on such items had been decreased to 18% and 12% in the run-up to various elections.
“While the Centre has been deferring decision on the demand, it has gone ahead with the proposal to impose 5% GST on essential commodities. The move that differed from the decision taken at the GST Council meet is bound to affect the common populace,” he said.
